NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. OUR KATIE THOMPSON WAS AT THE STATE HOUSE. >> MY HEART IS SO FULL. AND I’M SO PROUD OF MY SON. >> AT A ROOM INSIDE OF THE STATEHOUSE LYNN ROY SHARED WHAT SHE SAYS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE’S FELT EXCITEMENT IN MANY YEARS. THE LEGACY OF HER SON CONRAD LIVING ON THROUGH A BILL FILED TODAY. IT’S CALLED CONRAD’S LAW AND IT’S TARGETING WHAT LAWMAKERS SAY IS A GROWING PROBLEM, SUICIDE COERCION. >> CONRAD ROY’S TRAGIC DEATH TAUGHT US AN IMPORTANT LESSON. THAT MASSACHUSETTS IS NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SCENARIOS LIKE THIS. >> ROY COMMITTED SUICIDE IN 2014. HIS DEATH SPARKING A LANDMARK CASE. HIS THEN GIRLFRIEND MICHELLE CARTER LATER CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER FOR ENCOURAGING ROY THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE SUICIDE BY COERCION A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY JAIL TIME INCLUDING A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF FIVE YEARS FOR ANYONE WHO INTENTIONALLY COERCES OR ENCOURAGES A PERSON TO ATTEMPT OR COMMIT SUICIDE. THE BILL INCLUDES AN EXEMPTION FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE WHICH ISN’T LEGAL MASSACHUSETTS BUT IS BEING CONSIDERED ON BEACON HILL. CARTER IS CURRENTLY SERVING A 15 MONTH SENTENCE ALTHOUGH HER ATTORNEYS HAVE PETITIONED THE US SUPREME COURT FOR REVIEW. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR. CONRAD’S LAW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEEKING JUSTICE FOR MY SON. THIS LAW HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH PREVENTING THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN TO OTHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. >> THE BILL NOW HEADS TO A JOINT JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. LAWMAKERS EXPECT IT WILL PASS AND MOVE T

Conrad Roy's 2014 suicide, a death that came after encouragement from his girlfriend, led to a high-profile trial, national media attention and an HBO documentary.Of all that's happened in the past five years, it was on Tuesday, as lawmakers announced a bill named in Roy's honor, that his mother, Lynn, said she was first able to experience excitement again."Before my son passed, I was excited about so much," Lynn Roy said. "I've never said I'm freaking excited about anything until last week, when I was told that it was going to be here, and yes, I'm so freaking excited. My heart is so full, and I'm so proud of my son."The bill, referred to as Conrad's Law and filed Monday by Sen. Barry Finegold and Rep. Natalie Higgins, would establish a penalty of up to five years in state prison for someone who intentionally coerces or encourages another person's suicide or who provides the means for a suicide or suicide attempt.To be held liable, according to Finegold's office, a person would also need to have substantial control or undue influence over the victim or to have manipulated their behavior through fraud or deceit. The bill would not apply to doctors administering medical aid in dying, a practice that is not currently legal in Massachusetts.Higgins, a Leominster Democrat, said Conrad Roy's story "exposed a major gap in our law that we need to fix.""We're hopeful that now that that gap has been shown, that this can be something that's dealt with swiftly," she said. "It's happened in other scenarios with legislation where we see a big gap that we need to fix, so we're going to do everything we can to advocate with our colleagues."Roy's girlfriend, Michelle Carter, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. She began serving her 15-month sentence this year, and her lawyers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.Finegold said the bill proposes "a better way to address such scenarios than by using a charge of manslaughter" and that manslaughter convictions based on a person's speech could create a "very slippery slope."The Andover Democrat said Massachusetts is one of 10 states without a law setting a distinct criminal penalty for suicide coercion and that rates of teen suicide have been rising. He said the 2018 suicide of Lowell teenager Anna Aslanian, who had been bullied at school, also underscored the need for the bill."I see on a daily basis how influential young people can be on each other's mental health," said Finegold, who has teenage children. "This is especially true now that our children are moving through life with their cellphones basically attached to their bodies. There is no way to come home from school, close your doors and shut out the bullying like there used to be. Facing this reality, we need to set boundaries around what is and what is not acceptable behavior."

BOSTON —

Conrad Roy's 2014 suicide, a death that came after encouragement from his girlfriend, led to a high-profile trial, national media attention and an HBO documentary.

Of all that's happened in the past five years, it was on Tuesday, as lawmakers announced a bill named in Roy's honor, that his mother, Lynn, said she was first able to experience excitement again.

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"Before my son passed, I was excited about so much," Lynn Roy said. "I've never said I'm freaking excited about anything until last week, when I was told that it was going to be here, and yes, I'm so freaking excited. My heart is so full, and I'm so proud of my son."

The bill, referred to as Conrad's Law and filed Monday by Sen. Barry Finegold and Rep. Natalie Higgins, would establish a penalty of up to five years in state prison for someone who intentionally coerces or encourages another person's suicide or who provides the means for a suicide or suicide attempt.

To be held liable, according to Finegold's office, a person would also need to have substantial control or undue influence over the victim or to have manipulated their behavior through fraud or deceit. The bill would not apply to doctors administering medical aid in dying, a practice that is not currently legal in Massachusetts.

Higgins, a Leominster Democrat, said Conrad Roy's story "exposed a major gap in our law that we need to fix."

"We're hopeful that now that that gap has been shown, that this can be something that's dealt with swiftly," she said. "It's happened in other scenarios with legislation where we see a big gap that we need to fix, so we're going to do everything we can to advocate with our colleagues."

Roy's girlfriend, Michelle Carter, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. She began serving her 15-month sentence this year, and her lawyers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

Finegold said the bill proposes "a better way to address such scenarios than by using a charge of manslaughter" and that manslaughter convictions based on a person's speech could create a "very slippery slope."

The Andover Democrat said Massachusetts is one of 10 states without a law setting a distinct criminal penalty for suicide coercion and that rates of teen suicide have been rising. He said the 2018 suicide of Lowell teenager Anna Aslanian, who had been bullied at school, also underscored the need for the bill.

"I see on a daily basis how influential young people can be on each other's mental health," said Finegold, who has teenage children. "This is especially true now that our children are moving through life with their cellphones basically attached to their bodies. There is no way to come home from school, close your doors and shut out the bullying like there used to be. Facing this reality, we need to set boundaries around what is and what is not acceptable behavior."